Paul O'Grady | |
|---|---|
 O'Grady in 2009 | |
| Born | Paul James O'Grady (1955-06-14)14 June 1955 Tranmere, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 28 March 2023(2023-03-28) (aged 67) Aldington, Kent, England |
| Burial place | Church of St Rumwold, Bonnington, England |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1978–2023 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
Paul James O'Grady (14 June 1955 – 28 March 2023) was an Englishdrag queen, comedian, broadcaster, actor, and writer. He achieved notability in theLondon gay scene during the 1980s with his drag personaLily Savage, through which he gained wider popularity in the 1990s. O'Grady subsequently dropped the character and in the 2000s became the presenter of various television and radio shows, includingThe Paul O'Grady Show.
Born to a working-class Irish migrant family inTranmere, Cheshire, O'Grady moved to London in the late 1970s, initially working as a peripatetic care officer forCamden Council. He developed his drag act in 1978, basing the character of Lily Savage upon traits found among female relatives. Touring England as part of drag mime duo the Playgirls, O'Grady then went solo as a stand-up comedian in the early 1980s. Performing as Savage for eight years at a South London gay pub, theRoyal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT), he gained a popular following among London's gay community and used his character to speak out forgay rights. After being nominated for a 1992Perrier Comedy Award, O'Grady attracted mainstream attention and made various television, radio, and theatrical appearances. As Savage, he presented the television showsThe Big Breakfast (1995–1996),Blankety Blank (1997–2002), andLily Live! (2000–2001), earning various awards and becoming a well known public figure.
Wishing to diversify from Savage, O'Grady starred in theBBC One sitcomEyes Down (2003–2004) and presented two travel documentaries forITV. In 2004, he began presenting ITV's daytime chat showThe Paul O'Grady Show. After the network refused to transfer creative control of the series to O'Grady's production companyOlga TV, he moved toChannel 4 in 2006, where the show was rebranded asThe New Paul O'Grady Show, airing until 2009. O'Grady presented the late night ITV showPaul O'Grady Live (2010–2011) andBBC Radio 2'sPaul O'Grady on the Wireless (2009–2022). Additional television shows includedPaul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs (2012–2023),Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans (2014–2016),Blind Date (2017–2019), andPaul O'Grady's Great British Escape (2020). He also published several books, including a four-volume memoir.
O'Grady was appointed aMember of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the2008 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment. In 2020 he became president of theBritish Music Hall Society, taking over the role fromRoy Hudd.[1] On 31 October 2022 he was appointed as aDeputy Lieutenant for theCounty ofKent, where he lived for many years.[2][3]
O'Grady was born on 14 June 1955 atSt. Catherine's Hospital in theTranmere area ofBirkenhead, Cheshire (nowMerseyside).[4] His father, Patrick "Paddy" Grady (1912–1973),[5] was Irish and had grown up in Ballincurry,County Roscommon, before moving to England in 1936 and settling in the working-class area of Birkenhead. His name was changed from "Grady" to "O'Grady" in a paperwork mistake when he joined theRoyal Air Force, and he kept the new name.[6] Patrick married Mary "Molly" Savage (1916–1988), who was born in England to Irish immigrants fromCounty Louth.[4] Paul was their third child; his birth came over a decade after those of brother Brendan (born 1941) and sister Sheila (born 1944).[5]
O'Grady spent his early life at the family's rented home at 23 Holly Grove in Higher Tranmere.[7] He later said, "When I look back on my childhood I have no bad memories. Our family was loving and full of affection. I never knew what divorce was until I moved to London. I was an indulged child and completely protected from anything bad."[8] Attending St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, O'Grady excelled in all subjects except mathematics. Hoping that he had a good future ahead of him, his parents budgeted to send him to a private school, the Catholic-runRedcourt, but his grades dropped. Failing theeleven plus exam, he was unable to enter a grammar school so attended the Blessed Edward Campion R.C. Secondary Modern and the Corpus Christi High School.[9] It was at the school that O'Grady experienced his first homosexual encounter, enjoying a brief romance with another boy, although he still assumed he was heterosexual.[10]
A fan of the popular television seriesThe Avengers andBatman,[11] O'Grady was enrolled in theCub Scouts by his mother, but he hated it, leaving after a month. Analtar boy at a local Catholic church, he was dismissed after laughing during a funeral service.[12] He then joined theMarine Cadet Section of theSea Cadet Corps, later commenting that he was following in the footsteps of his childhood hero, the cartoon characterPopeye.[13] He enjoyed the cadets, and at the advice of his captain joined the Boys' Amateur Boxing Club, developing a lifelong love of the sport.[14] Playing truant from school, he got into trouble with his parents, and subsequently with the police after burgling a house with three friends.[15] O'Grady's first job was apaper round that he kept for a week,[16] and through this and other jobs, he saved up to affordMod clothes, for a time becoming asuedehead.[17]
Leaving school aged 16, O'Grady obtained a job in the civil service, working as a clerical assistant for theDHSS at theirLiverpool office; he commuted in from his parents' Tranmere home. Supplementing this income, he worked part-time at the bar of theRoyal Air Forces Association (RAFA) club inOxton.[18] Called for a disciplinary hearing at the DHSS and accused of incompetent behaviour and tardiness, he resigned.[19] Obtaining a job at the Wheatsheaf Hotel inVirginia Water, Surrey, aged 17, O'Grady moved there; the management accused him of stealing, which he denied.[20]
Promptly returning to Birkenhead, he increasingly socialised within the Liverpudliangay scene, attending meetings of theCampaign for Homosexual Equality and working at agay bar called the Bear's Paw;[21][22] this was kept a secret from his parents, to whom he was not "out ofthe closet".[21] He also hadcasual sex with a female friend, Diane Jansen,[23] who became pregnant, news which O'Grady discovered in the same week that both his parents suffered heart attacks; his mother made a recovery, but his father died.[24] Following the birth of his daughter, Sharon Lee Jansen, in May 1974, O'Grady agreed to pay towards her upkeep, but refused to marry Jansen, recognising his homosexuality.[25]
Briefly working as an assistant clerk atLiverpool Magistrates' Court, O'Grady subsequently worked as a barman atYates's Wine Lodge, supplementing the income with the occasional night at the Bear's Paw.[26] Realising this wage was insufficient to support both himself and his daughter, he travelled to London, lodging inWestbourne Green, but found only poorly paid work as a barman. In London, he began associating withdrag queens, particularly a couple who used the stage name of the Harlequeens. Although making friends in the city, O'Grady was homesick and returned to Birkenhead.[27] Employed as an accountant in a FMC Meats Merseysideabattoir, he then worked for three years at the Children's Convalescent Home and School inWest Kirby, a home for disabled and abused children.[28][29]
Returning to London, he rented a flat inCrouch End and began busking with a friend inCamden Town before obtaining a job as a physiotherapist's assistant at theRoyal Northern Hospital.[30] Made redundant by public sector cuts, O'Grady took up a job at a gay club called the Showplace, befriending a Portuguese lesbian named Teresa Fernandes. In May 1977, they married to prevent her deportation; they lost contact and only legally divorced in 2005.[31][32] Taking up jobs as a cleaner and a waiter at private functions,[33] he began working forCamden Council as a peripatetic care officer. Living in with elderly people and dysfunctional families would have a lasting effect on him.[34]
I've frequently been asked over the years who Lily Savage was based on and I've always answered that it was no one in particular and she was just a figment of my imagination. The truth, I realise now, is that Lily owes a lot to the women I encountered in my childhood. Characteristics and attitudes were observed and absorbed, Aunty Chris's in particular, and they provided the roots and compost for the Lily that would germinate and grow later on.
While working for Camden Social Services, O'Grady made his first attempt at putting together a drag act, creating the character of Lily Savage; he later said, "I wanted to get up there but be larger than life, a creature that was more cartoon than human."[36] His debut was on the afternoon of 7 October 1978 atThe Black Cap gay pub in Camden, where his act involved miming the words toBarbra Streisand's "Nobody Makes a Pass at Me" from the showPins and Needles.[37] Following a holiday to Poland,[38] he visited an ex-boyfriend inManila in the Philippines, there working briefly as a barman and waiter at a brothel.[39]
Returning to London, O'Grady moved toPurley and thenStreatham with a drag act, the Glamazons. With one of them, nicknamed "Hush", he founded a two-man drag mime act, the Playgirls, although found little work in London. Agreeing to a tour of northern England, they moved toSlaithwaite, West Yorkshire,[40] also accepting a month's work at a club inCopenhagen, Denmark.[41] Diversifying their act, O'Grady learnedfire eating and developed a striptease while wearing afat suit he named "Biddy".[42] After Hush returned to London, O'Grady continued his drag performance as a solo act under the name of "Paul Monroe", a reference toMarilyn Monroe.[43] Under financial strain, O'Grady moved back in with his mother in Birkenhead.[44] Amid mass unemployment, O'Gradybriefly lived off the dole before resurrecting the Playgirls with his friend Vera; initially performing in Liverpool, where they were caught up in the1981 Toxteth riots, they began touring other parts of northern England until returning to London.[45]
Again working as a support worker for Camden Council Social Services,[46] O'Grady lived inVauxhall and thenBrixton before reviving the Playgirls with Hush, devising an act based upon the filmWhat Ever Happened to Baby Jane?[47] At the end of the year, he appeared as anUgly Sister in a dragpantomime ofCinderella.[48] In March 1983 he joined theEquity union, allowing him to take a role in the theatrical adaptation ofIf They'd Asked for a Lion Tamer at theDonmar Warehouse.[49] The Playgirls gained bookings to appear across London, and also inAmsterdam and Copenhagen; O'Grady and Hush joined with drag artist David Dale to form an act known as "LSD", which stood for "Lily, Sandra, and Doris". Devising an act that parodied children's television showAndy Pandy, they gained bookings across London and inEdinburgh.[50]
In 1984, O'Grady began work as a barman at a Vauxhall gay pub, the Elephant and Castle. As Lily, he compered "Ladies Night" each Tuesday, where amateur drag acts would perform.[51] As compere, he tried out comedy routines, becoming known for insulting both the acts and the audience; he attracted growing crowds and he was interviewed by artistPatrick Procktor.[52] After six months, he transferred his act to the nearbyRoyal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT) gay pub, re-opening his show on Thursday nights as "Stars of the Future".[53] In 1985 he obtained his owncouncil flat in Vauxhall's Victoria Mansions.[54] During the mid-1980s, he entered a relationship with Brendan "Murph" Murphy, the manager of agay sauna nearthe Oval,Kennington.[55] Murphy subsequently became O'Grady's manager.[56]
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Eventually appearing at the RVT three times a week, on Sundays O'Grady began performing at the Union Tavern inCamberwell and theGoldsmiths Tavern inNew Cross, where he often precededVic Reeves' three-hour showVic Reeves Big Night Out.[57] Quitting his council work, he focused full-time on his career as Lily, taking his act across the country and abroad.[58] Other venues he performed at included theMadame Jojo's club inSoho,[59] theBloomsbury Theatre,[60] and theHeaven nightclub.[61] Befriending American drag queenDivine and his manager Bernard Jay, Jay booked O'Grady to appear inFort Lauderdale, Florida.[62] As Divine had done, O'Grady also recorded his ownHi-NRG song, "Tough at the Top", which was produced by DJIan Levine.[63] In 1988, he performed as Madame inThe Scythe of Reason,[64] and appeared at theGlasgow Mayfest, where he developed a lifelong friendship with actorIan McKellen.[65]
O'Grady used his act to speak out on issues affecting the gay community, especially during theHIV/AIDS crisis.[66] In April 1988 he took part in a march againstSection 28, a policy introduced byMargaret Thatcher'sConservative government that many denounced ashomophobic.[67] Regularly doing charity fundraisers for HIV/AIDS research, many of his friends died from AIDS-related complications;[68] he later related that "People my age will never get over the horrors."[69] He performed in a play about the disease at theKing's Head Theatre inIslington, befriending co-starAmanda Mealing.[70]
From 1989 to 1992 O'Grady performed annually as Lily at theEdinburgh Fringe, gaining increasing recognition.[71] He was nominated for the 1991Perrier Award alongsideJack Dee,Eddie Izzard, and (the ultimate winner)Frank Skinner.[72] He later related that "The Edinburgh Festival changed my life. The experience opened doors for me that would otherwise have been firmly closed, exposing me to a much wider audience than I'd previously been used to."[73] O'Grady followed this with a show titledLily Savage Live from the Hackney Empire; a sell-out, it was the first time that his performance was recorded.[74] In 1992 he embarked on an Australian tour, performing alongside the Australian comedianMark Trevorrow,[75] and proceeded to Los Angeles, where he was present for the1992 riots in that city.[76]
O'Grady obtained his breakthrough into television when he played the character of atransvestite prostitute informant, Roxanne, in three episodes ofITV's police dramaThe Bill between 1988 and 1990.[77] Just before filming on the first episode, O'Grady's mother died.[78] In 1990 he appeared in the ITV miniseriesChimera as a social worker; during filming he befriended co-starLiza Tarbuck.[79] He followed this with a performance as aMarlene Dietrich-style cabaret singer in an episode ofRik Mayall's ITV comedyThe New Statesman.[80] He had continued to perform regularly at the RVT, and after the proprietors Pat and Breda McConnor decided to move on, he and Murphy unsuccessfully sought to replace them.[81] O'Grady never performed at the RVT again after the McConnors left.[82]
After leaving the RVT, O'Grady continued to tour as Lily and releasedVHS videos of his performances.[83] Gaining further public exposure through an appearance on the late-nightChannel 4 comedy showViva Cabaret!,[84] he appeared on an episode ofBBC quiz showThat's Showbusiness.[85] Moving into radio, he began making regular appearances as Lily onWoman's Hour andLoose Ends.[86] Also moving into film, he travelled toDublin, Ireland to play an inmate in the 1993 filmIn the Name of the Father; although not in the Lily character, he was credited as "Paul Savage".[87] In character as Lily, he appeared on an October 1994 episode of BBC seriesThe Steve Wright People Show,[88] had a cameo in the soapBrookside the following month,[89] and presented an episode of BBC music showTop of the Pops.[90] He also appeared as a female pirate in an episode of BBC children's showPirates.[91]
Employed to narrate theBBC 2 seriesLife Swaps,[92] he was also given his own late-night Channel 4 series,Live from the Lilydrome, which was filmed in aworking men's club inBlackpool.[93] Given top billing at the gay rights charityStonewall's 1994 Equality Show inAlbert Hall,[94] he also played the role of Nancy in theLondon Palladium's performance of the musicalOliver!.[95] Reflecting his increasing success in mainstream British comedy, in 1994 he was nominated for both Top Live Stand-Up Comedian and Top Television Comedy Newcomer at theBritish Comedy Awards.[96] Some in the South London gay scene were critical of O'Grady, accusing him of being asell out; he fiercely denied these accusations, stating that "I've done nearly ten years on the factory floor and now I feel I deserve a shot in the office."[97]
AfterPaula Yates resigned as presenter of the Channel 4 morning television programThe Big Breakfast, its production companyPlanet 24 employed O'Grady to replace her. A four-weekLie-in with Lily was commissioned as a trial run.[98] As Lily, O'Grady ignored the suggested questions of PR agents and instead asked personal questions of his guests; having attracted 2 million viewers, Planet 24 renewed his contract to keep him on as presenter.[99] Through contacts made in showbusiness, he befriended manyA-list celebrities, among themElton John andCher.[100] O'Grady found the early morning starts difficult, particularly as he was also appearing as Lily in amusical version ofPrisoner Cell Block H at theQueen's Theatre inLondon's West End.[101] When the musical then toured the UK, O'Grady took a break fromThe Big Breakfast to accompany it.[102]
He took his new dog, ashih tzu-bichon frisé cross named Buster, with him on tour;[103] O'Grady later commented that "He was never happier than in a TV studio or theatre... Buster knew all the theatre doormen and loved being fussed over. He was a smashing dog."[104] At the time, O'Grady had been making greater attempts to get to know his teenage daughter; theDaily Mirror tabloid treated her existence as a headline scandal in autumn 1994.[105] Critical of the media, O'Grady condemned them for solely referring to him as a drag queen; he commented thatBarry Humphries, who played the character ofDame Edna Everage, was "never called a drag act because he's a heterosexual male. But I'm called one because I'm a gay man. It's homophobic and it's wrong as there is nothing remotely sexual about what I do. I dress up as a woman for financial purposes, nothing else."[106]
In April 1996, O'Grady filmed a performance at theLWT Tower asAn Evening with Lily Savage, broadcast on ITV in November. A hit, it was awarded Best Entertainment Program at the 1997National Television Awards.[107] He turned down ITV's subsequent offer of a weekly show because it would air before thewatershed and thus force him to drastically alter his act into a form oflight entertainment.[108] With Murphy he then established a production company, Wildflower.[109] Returning to theatre, he performedThe Lily Savage Show for a 16-week sell-out run at Blackpool'sNorth Pier Theatre and thenLily's Christmas Cracker at theBlackpool Opera House, the latter filmed for broadcast by theBBC.[110] At this juncture, he agreed to appear as Lily in adverts for theFord Escort,[111] subsequently appearing in ad campaigns forPretty Polly tights, the soft drinkOasis, and a bingo company.[112] Earnings from these performances allowed him to move out of his Vauxhall council flat and into a house nearTower Bridge inSouth London.[113] He also purchased a flat inSaltaire.[114]
In 1998, the BBC produced a six-week Sunday series titledThe Lily Savage Show, during which he interviewed guests likeElton John,Alan Yentob, andAnthea Turner. O'Grady found the scripted, non-spontaneous nature of the series difficult, and it was not well received.[115] As Lily, O'Grady was invited on to other television chat shows, such asRichard and Judy;[116] he appeared in a Christmas special of cookery showReady, Steady, Cook.[117] He went on an eight-week tour as Lily,[118] before starring as Miss Hannigan in a West End revival of the musicalAnnie.[119] He subsequently accompanied the show's tour of the UK,[120] before appearing inpantomime in Birmingham.[121]
The BBC decided to revive the quiz showBlankety Blank, previously hosted byTerry Wogan andLes Dawson. They selected O'Grady to present the show as Lily, allowing him to ad lib rather than follow a script.[122] Screened on primetime Saturday night in 1998 and 1999,Blankety Blank proved a ratings winner, attracting an audience of 9 million. ITV then purchased it, offering O'Grady a two-year deal (2001 and 2002) for £1 million.[123] ITV let him be more risque in his use of humour onBlankety Blank, and also commissioned a comedy series,Lily Live!.[124] This show also proved a success, earning O'Grady nominations for both the Best Comedy Entertainment Personality and Programme at the 2000British Comedy Awards.[125] With increased earnings—his assets were estimated to total £4 million[126]—in 1999 O'Grady purchased a house inAldington, Kent from comedianVic Reeves, decorating it in anArt Nouveau style and establishing asmallholding.[127]
Tired of appearing as Lily, O'Grady decided to try to make a career for himself outside of drag.[128] He appeared as himself in an advert campaign for Double Two shirt-makers,[129] before pitching a six-parttravelogue series to ITV, who agreed to part-fund it. The project resulted inPaul O'Grady's Orient, for which he travelled throughout East and Southeast Asia. Although poorly received by the tabloid press, it achieved good ratings, and ITV commissioned a second series,Paul O'Grady's America, in which he visited various U.S. cities. Again it received poor tabloid reviews.[130] O'Grady suffered a bout of clinical depression,[131] but recovered in time to perform alongsideCilla Black andBarbara Windsor in aburlesque rendition of "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" at the 2001Royal Variety Performance; the televised event attracted 11.5 million viewers.[132]
In April 2002, O'Grady had a heart attack, which doctors attributed to a combination of acongenital family heart problems with stress,heavy smoking, andcaffeine.[133] His recovery meant missing the Heritage Foundation Awards ceremony, where he was awarded television personality of the year award.[134] Returning to work, he appeared as theChild Catcher in a twelve-week run of the musicalChitty Chitty Bang Bang at theLondon Palladium, receiving good reviews.[135] He followed this with a Christmas season as the Wicked Queen in the pantomimeSnow White atManchester Opera House.[136]
In 2003, O'Grady appeared inCelebrity Driving School, a BBCComic Relief show in which he learned to drive, alongsideNadia Sawalha andJade Goody. One of his tantrums on the shows was nominated for a Best Television Moment of the Year Award.[137] Although turning down most offers to appear in a sitcom, he agreed to play the manager of a Merseysidebingo hall in the BBC seriesEyes Down, commenting: "He's an evil, twisted man who hates everything that moves. Not exactly a challenge for me".[138] Screened in the prime Friday night slot, the show was popular with viewers, if not reviewers, and was renewed for a second series in 2004.[139] The BBC were also planning on revivingThe Generation Game; O'Grady presented two pilot episodes in late 2003 but left the project, unhappy with the result.[140] O'Grady ended 2003 inpantomime at theBristol Hippodrome.[141]
I just want the show to be like a party, a group of pals gabbing away about the first things that come into their heads. There are always enough things in life to worry and get depressed about. I want my show to take our minds off all that stuff, even if it's only for a while.
O'Grady temporarily stood in forDes O'Connor on ITV's lunchtime chat showToday with Des and Mel, enjoying the feeling of presenting live.[143] ITV executives then offered him his own daytime chat show:The Paul O'Grady Show.[144] There was initial press concern that O'Grady's style of adult humour would not be appropriate for a daytime slot, but ITV's controller of entertainment, Mark Wells, declared that "Paul is one of the funniest people on television – he deserves to be on it far more than he is."[145]
The show first aired in October 2004 from 5 pm to 6 pm and saw O'Grady interviewing celebrity guests; it represented "a glorious mix of seemingly unscripted banter, chat and slapstick humour".[145] In producing the show, O'Grady worked with many old friends, including warm-up manAndy Collins.[146] The series was a hit, attaining between 2.5 and 2.7 million viewers daily.[147] According to O'Grady biographer Neil Simpson, the series was "a riotous, endearinglykitsch romp with no pretensions to be anything other than pure entertainment. In some ways it was pure vaudeville[...] There were novelty acts, talking dogs, whistling goldfish, extraordinary stories. His audience laughed like drains at his anecdotes and were brought right into the heart of the show."[148] The inclusion of his dog, Buster, on the show proved particularly popular with audiences.[149] The show gained a devoted following, with many fans attending the screenings; often, as many as a hundred had to be turned away.[150] Describing those attending the screenings, Simpson noted that "Groups of middle aged women dominate—but they are joined by beautiful twenty-something women with flawless make-up, flash City boys withLouis Vuitton briefcases, hip-looking students out for a good time and pensioners just wanting a laugh in the afternoon."[151]
On or off camera it is the brilliant anecdotes about his life and the endless stream of trenchant opinions on the world in general that keep Paul's fans coming back for more.
The show's viewing figures exceeded those of Channel 4's daytime chat show,Richard & Judy. Tabloids stoked the rivalry between the shows, calling it the "Chat Wars".[153] O'Grady claimed that tabloids had been publishing false quotations attributed to him, describing Richard and Judy as "a lovely couple and we certainly haven't fallen out."[154] At Christmas 2004, O'Grady starred in a pantomime,Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, at theVictoria Palace Theatre in London's West End.[155] After the second series ofThe Paul O'Grady Show was commissioned, in March 2005 it was awarded Best Daytime Programme by theRoyal Television Society, and O'Grady was subsequently awarded Best Entertainment Performance at theBAFTAs.[156] In August controversy arose after it was revealed that the staff member responsible for interviewing the show's prospective child reporters had written derogatory notes about them; O'Grady dismissed the staff member responsible and issued a public apology.[157]
In June 2005, Murphy died ofbrain cancer.[158] Prior to Murphy's death, O'Grady had promised him that his production company—now namedOlga TV after one of O'Grady's dogs—would take creative control overThe Paul O'Grady Show. ITV refused to allow this, and so O'Grady moved the show to Channel 4, where it was renamedThe New Paul O'Grady Show.[159] Press accused O'Grady of moving in pursuit of a higher salary;[160] Channel 4 offered him a contract for £2 million a year, making him one of Britain's highest-paid television stars.[161]
In June 2006, O'Grady suffered a second massive heart attack, undergoing anangioplasty;[162][163] he received around 7000 get-well-soon cards and letters from fans.[164] He returned to work for the second series ofThe New Paul O'Grady Show in September, during which the show's viewing figures hit a new peak.[165] To deal with his health issues, he began taking a week off mid-series, where he was replaced by guest presenters.[166] O'Grady subsequently won the Ten Years at the Top award at the TV Quick and TV Choice awards.[167]
The tabloids tried to re-ignite the "chat wars" by claiming a rivalry between O'Grady and other daytime television shows such asThe Sharon Osbourne Show andThe Brian Conley Show.[168] Amid the laterNews International phone hacking scandal, police fromOperation Weeting informed him thatNews of the World reporterGlenn Mulcaire had hacked his mobile phone. He decided not to sue.[169] 2006 also saw the start of his relationship with future-husband André Portasio, a ballet dancer.[170]In 2008, O'Grady had a cameo as himself in theDoctor Who episode "The Stolen Earth",[171] and appeared inGhosthunting with Paul O'Grady and Friends, filmed inPalermo, Sicily.[172] 2008 also saw publication of the first volume of O'Grady's memoirs,At My Mother's Knee ... And Other Low Joints, published byBantam.[173] The second volume,The Devil Rides Out: The Second Coming, followed in 2010.[174]
After budget talks broke down with Channel 4, O'Grady endedThe New Paul O'Grady Show. In October 2009, O'Grady agreed to an £8 million deal with ITV to host a Friday prime-time chat-show,Paul O'Grady Live.[175][176] The first series aired from September to November 2010.[177] In October, O'Grady attracted media attention after calling theConservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government "bastards" on his show for mass cuts to social services.[178][179][180] He also voiced his support for student protesters whohad occupied and vandalised the Conservative Party headquarters.[181][182]Ofcom received several complaints over the incident.[179]Paul O'Grady Live was picked up for a second series from April to July 2011, and included a special devoted to American pop starLady Gaga.[183] In October, ITV axedPaul O'Grady Live.[184][185] O'Grady stated that ITV had asked him to return for a third series, but that he had refused, claiming that he had had enough of the chat show format,[176][186] and that he was fed up with the "interference" from the show's producers.[186]That month, he also performed inDrama at Inish at theFinborough Theatre inEarl's Court.[187]
2012 saw the launch of ITV documentary seriesPaul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs, covering life atBattersea Dogs and Cats Home in south London. O'Grady commented that he had wanted to do such a show for years and that he took to it with an "enthusiasm that surprised everyone except me". Although scheduled to initially film at the centre for six days, he stayed as a volunteer for six months.[188] At the end of the first series, O'Grady was invited to become an ambassador for the centre, and a bronze statue of his late dog, Buster, was erected on a plinth at the centre.[189] He also adopted a dog from the home; aJack Russell–Chihuahua cross named Eddy.[189] Through the series he developed a friendship with actorTom Hardy, who appeared in one episode.[190]
In April 2012, O'Grady appeared onThe One and Only Des O'Connor, a one-off special forITV which looked back on the life ofDes O'Connor.[191] In October 2012, the third volume of his memoirs,Still Standing: The Savage Years, was released.[192]In 2012, O'Grady also revived his Lily Savage character for a cameo inPaul O'Grady's Little Cracker, a Christmas short story.[193] He later expressed criticism of the showRuPaul's Drag Race and the contemporary drag performers on it, stating: "It's all about shading and contouring your face now and being like supermodels [...] This new brigade who just parade around going, sashay, shantay—that's not drag to me", lacking the comedic element common to drag queens of his generation.[194]
In July 2013, O'Grady narrated the ITV documentaryMe and My Guide Dog following the work of Guide Dogs.[195] In April 2013, O'Grady presented a documentary aboutburlesque performerGypsy Rose Lee as part of ITV'sPerspectives series.[196] That month, he also presented ITV'sBritish Animal Honours award ceremony.[197][198][199]
In 2013, ITV revivedThe Paul O'Grady Show.[200][201] In November, O'Grady suffered an angina attack and underwent further heart surgery.[202]
In 2013, O'Grady guest starred as cancer patient Tim Connor in three episodes of the BBC medical dramaHolby City.[203] On 31 October 2013, O'Grady recorded a non-broadcast pilot for aBBC One sitcom calledLed Astray, starring alongsideCilla Black. The show was not commissioned for a full series due to the pair's busy schedules.[204][205] In 2013, O'Grady presented two-partBBC documentary seriesPaul O'Grady's Working Britain, which was nominated for aNational Television Award in January 2014.[206] On 16 October 2013, O'Grady presentedThe One and Only Cilla Black, a 90-minuteITV special celebrating Cilla Black's 50 years in show business.[207] The show was later repeated shortly after Cilla Black's death in August 2015, with O'Grady presenting a short tribute to her to introduce the show.[208][209][210]
The first series ofPaul O'Grady's Animal Orphans screened in 2014, with O'Grady travelling to see wildlife in Africa; a second series followed in 2015 and a third in 2016.[211] The first series averaged 3.29 million viewers while the second averaged 2.75 million.[212] In 2014, he appeared in aGogglebox special forStand Up to Cancer.[213][214] In December 2014, O'Grady appeared in ITV's documentaryRita & Me celebratingBarbara Knox's fifty years as the characterRita Tanner inCoronation Street.[215]
In September 2015, O'Grady's fourth bookOpen the Cage, Murphy!: Further Savage Adventures was released.[193] In 2015, O'Grady presentedBob Monkhouse: The Million Joke Man, a three-part factual series forGold, exploring the life of comedian and presenterBob Monkhouse.[216][217] In December 2015, O'Grady appeared inOur Cilla, a one-off programme about the life ofCilla Black.[218] 2016 saw O'Grady presentPaul O'Grady: The Sally Army & Me, a documentary series onThe Salvation Army forBBC One.[219][220][221][222] That year, he also presented a Channel 4 documentary,Paul O'Grady's 100 Years of Movie Musicals,[223][224] and another for ITV,Paul O'Grady's Favourite Fairy Tales.[225] That same evening he appeared on ITV inHilda Ogden's Last Ta-ra, which was a tribute to the lateCoronation Street actressJean Alexander.[226]
In August 2017, O'Grady married Portasio in a ceremony at London'sGoring Hotel,[170] although the pair continued to live separately.[227] That year also saw the screening of two-part ITV seriesPaul O'Grady: For the Love of Animals – India,[228] and the three-part Channel 4 seriesPaul O'Grady's Hollywood,[229] as well as a Channel 5 documentary about his life,The Paul O'Grady Story.[230] It also saw the publication of O'Grady's fifth book,Paul O'Grady's Country Life.[227] In 2017, Channel 5 revived the game showBlind Date with O'Grady as its presenter.[231][232][233] The first series was watched by an average of 1.5 million viewers. A Christmas episode aired on 23 December 2017,[234] before the second series aired from 30 December 2017.[235] A third series was filmed in February 2018.[236]
In 2020, O'Grady presented the six-part ITV seriesPaul O'Grady's Great British Escape, in which he visited sites across Kent.[237][238] In September 2021, he began hostingPaul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line-Up.[239]
In May 2023, O'Grady appeared alongsidePaul Hollywood,King Charles andQueen Camilla,Sister Sister andRicky Tomlinson in a pre-recorded segment for the opening of the first semi-final of theEurovision Song Contest 2023, which was hosted in Liverpool.[240] This was O'Grady's final television work before his death.[241]
A final series ofFor The Love of Dogs that O'Grady recorded in summer 2022 aired from April to September 2023 on ITV, and on 30 January 2024, it was announced that the show would continue with a new presenter,Alison Hammond.[242] Plus, a new 2 part documentary series for ITV,Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure, that O'Grady also filmed in 2022, aired on 31 March and 7 April 2024.[citation needed]
In 2008 and 2009, O'Grady occasionally sat in forElaine Paige on herBBC Radio 2 showElaine Paige on Sunday. From April 2009, O'Grady presented his own two-hour long programme on BBC Radio 2 calledPaul O'Grady on the Wireless which was broadcast on Sundays from 5 pm to 7 pm.
O'Grady was a guest onKate Thornton'sPaper Cuts in 2015. In September 2017, O'Grady presented a two-part documentary for BBC Radio 2 calledThe Story of the Light. The show saw O'Grady celebrate the 50th anniversary of Radio 2 by looking back at theBBC Light Programme that the channel replaced.[243]
In August 2022, it was announced that O'Grady was resigning from BBC Radio 2 due to his unhappiness with having to share his slot withRob Beckett. His final show aired that same month.[244] On 21 November 2022, it was announced that O'Grady would joinBoom Radio to present a show on Christmas Day, similar to the festive show he presented for Radio 2.[245] Prior to his death, O'Grady had been due to present another special show onEaster Sunday before joining the station permanently in May 2023.
O'Grady supported philanthropic causes for carers.[246] From 2008 onwards, he was an ambassador forSave the Children.[247]
In 2012, O'Grady became an ambassador forBattersea Dogs and Cats Home following his seriesFor the Love of Dogs, which was filmed in the home.[248] In 2013, he took part in thePedigree Feeding Brighter Futures campaign withAmanda Holden, which aimed to give a million meals torescue dogs nationwide.[249]
In 2014, O'Grady co-starred in aDementia Friends TV advertisement campaign to raise awareness about the disease.[250][251]
In October 2015, following his work onAnimal Orphans, O'Grady became a patron of Orangutan Appeal UK.[252]
In September 2016, O'Grady was recognised for his work with animals when he won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare at theRSPCA's Animal Hero Awards.[253]As an unofficial ambassador for the county of Kent (where he lived for 20 years) and which he readily promoted (including an ITV series) he accepted the unpaid position of Deputy Lieutenant of Kent in 2022.
In 1974, with his friend Diane Jansen, O'Grady had a daughter.[254][255] From 1977 to 2005, he was in amarriage of convenience with a Portuguese woman, Teresa Fernandes, although he was not in an active relationship with her.[32]
We used to fight like cat and dog. We were twoalpha males trying to be top dog. He was a tricky bastard and I can be tricky too. We'd have real punch-ups. But I'd tell him everything. Suddenly, I was totally on my own. That's when I said, "Lily's going." Because he's always been here with Lily. I thought "I can't do it any more." So she sort of died with him.
His long-term lover and business partner was Brendan Frank Murphy (b. 4 March 1956; d. 9 June 2005). In the fourth volume of his biography, he noted that he has "always had a penchant for the bad boys".[256] In 2017 he married André Portasio.[257]
Known to many friends as "Lily" or "Lil",[258] O'Grady was known for having had many high-profile and celebrity friends, including politicianMo Mowlam, actressesAmanda Mealing andBarbara Windsor, comedianBrenda Gilhooly and singer and television presenterCilla Black.[259]
O'Grady divided his time between hisCentral London flat and his ruralKentish farmhouse,[260] where he grew organic fruit and vegetables[261] and a variety of herbs, having a keen interest inherbal medicine.[262] A lifelong animal lover,[104] as a child O'Grady kept rabbits,hamsters,guinea pigs,mice, aferret and arat as pets; he commented that his mother thought him "a bit weird" as a result.[104] At his farm, he owned sheep, pigs, goats, donkeys, ducks, chickens,geese, ferrets,bats, mice and dogs.[263]
Two of O'Grady's pet dogs became well known to the British public through appearances onThe Paul O'Grady Show. The first was a rescue dog, Buster Elvis Savage, aShih Tzu/Bichon Frisé cross. Buster was euthanised in November 2009 as a result of his cancer.[264][265] O'Grady dedicated the second volume of his autobiography to Buster, describing him as "The greatest canine star sinceLassie".[266] A second dog, theCairn Terrier Olga, also attracted attention. In 2013, it was revealed that she was undergoingchemotherapy due to cancer.[205] Olga was euthanised in April 2018 after suffering from kidney failure.[267]
In an interview with theDaily Mirror in 2006, O'Grady admitted that smoking forty cigarettes a day for several decades had contributed to his two heart attacks.[268]
In 2013, O'Grady expressed his support for theLabour Party, championingLabour leaderEd Miliband as a better candidate for UK Prime Minister thanConservative incumbentDavid Cameron.[269] He lambasted theCameron–Clegg coalition government then in power, describing them as "absolutely disgusting. They have no idea what the common working man and woman are doing. They are not in touch with the working-classes. They have led privileged lives – they've had public schools and have never been on the shop floor."[269] He also praised Miliband's successor,Jeremy Corbyn.[193]
In 2015, he told a reporter that despite his wealth, he still felt "very much" working-class; "I know that probably sounds strange. Mentally, I still am. I'm still thinking, have I got the rent for Friday?"[193] Raised as aRoman Catholic, in his autobiography he related having "grown out of Catholicism" after his mother's death, but had "always been interested in alternative religions",[270] citing a particular interest inWicca.[271] He also reported seeingunexplained lights over his Kent home, considering the possibility that he was being observed by extraterrestrials.[272]
O'Grady died at his home in Kent on 28 March 2023, aged 67, fromsudden cardiac arrhythmia.[273][274][275] He had previously had three heart attacks, in 2002, 2006 and 2014.[276] His death was announced by his husband, André Portasio,[277] and tributes poured in from global figures and celebrities, including fromQueen Camilla, television presenterLorraine Kelly and LGBT rights campaignerPeter Tatchell.[278] O'Grady has been hailed by many as anational treasure.[279]
O'Grady's final performance was as Miss Hannigan inAnnie at theEdinburgh Playhouse just days before his death. His funeral was held at theChurch of St Rumwold, Bonnington, Kent, on 20 April 2023;[280][281][282][283] after the service he was buried there, next to his late partner Brendan Murphy.
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–1990 | The Bill | Roxanne | As Paul Savage |
| 1991 | Chimera | Donaldson | |
| 1992 | The New Statesman | Marlene Dietrich | |
| 1993 | In the Name of the Father | Prisoner | |
| 1994 | Top of the Pops | Guest presenter | As Lily Savage |
| Eurotrash | Segment presenter | ||
| 1995–1996 | The Big Breakfast | Presenter | |
| 1996 | An Evening with Lily Savage | ||
| 1997 | The Lily Savage Show | ||
| 1997–2002 | Blankety Blank | ||
| 1999 | Love Bites with Lily Savage | ||
| 2000 | Paul O'Grady's Orient | ||
| 2000–2001 | Lily Live! | As Lily Savage | |
| 2001 | Paul O'Grady's America | ||
| 2002–2003 | Outtake TV | ||
| 2003 | Today with Des and Mel | Guest presenter | |
| 2003–2004 | Eyes Down | Ray Temple | Main role |
| 2004–2005 | The British Soap Awards | Presenter | |
| 2004–2009, 2013–2015 | The Paul O'Grady Show | ||
| 2005 | Comic Aid | Presenter (as Lily Savage) | |
| 2005, 2009 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | Guest announcer | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Doctor Who | Himself, cameo | Episode: "The Stolen Earth" |
| 2010 | Coronation Street: The Big 50 | Presenter | |
| 2010–2011 | Paul O'Grady Live | ||
| 2012–2023 | Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs | ||
| 2013 | The British Animal Honours | ||
| Me and My Guide Dog | Narrator | ||
| Paul O'Grady's Working Britain | Presenter | ||
| Perspectives: Gypsy Rose Lee – The Queen of Burlesque | |||
| Holby City | Tim Connor | 3 episodes | |
| The One and Only Cilla Black | Presenter | ||
| 2014 | Gogglebox | Himself, guest | 1 episode |
| 2014–2016 | Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans | Presenter | |
| 2015 | Bob Monkhouse: The Million Joke Man | ||
| 2016 | Paul O'Grady: The Sally Army & Me[284] | ||
| Paul O'Grady's 100 Years of Movie Musicals | |||
| Paul O'Grady's Favourite Fairy Tales | |||
| 2017 | Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Animals – India | ||
| Paul O'Grady's Hollywood | |||
| 2017–2019 | Blind Date | 33 episodes | |
| 2018 | Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs: India | ||
| The NHS Heroes Awards | |||
| 2018–2019 | Paul O'Grady's Little Heroes | ||
| 2020 | Paul O'Grady's Great British Escape[285] | ||
| 2021 | The Madame Blanc Mysteries | David | |
| Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line Up[286] | Presenter | ||
| 2023 | For the Love of Paul O'Grady | Himself | ITV tribute show, archival footage |
| Eurovision Song Contest 2023[241] | Himself | Cameo and posthumous appearance in opening of first semi-final | |
| 2024 | Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure | Himself | Two-part documentary; O'Grady's final television appearance[287] |
| Year | Award | Work | Result | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Entertainment Performance | An Evening with Lily Savage | Nominated | |
| 1997 | Nominated | [288] | |||
| 1998 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Entertainment Performance | Blankety Blank | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Won | ||||
| 2000 | British Comedy Awards | Best Comedy Entertainment Personality | Lily Live! | Nominated | |
| 2002 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | The Paul O'Grady Show | Nominated | |
| 2005 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Entertainment Performance | Won | ||
| British Comedy Awards | Best Comedy Entertainment Personality | Won | |||
| National Television Awards | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | Nominated | |||
| Most Popular Daytime Programme | Won | ||||
| 2006 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | N/a | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | N/a | Nominated | |||
| 2008 | N/a | Nominated | |||
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | The Paul O'Grady Show | Won | |||
| 2010 | Nominated | ||||
| 2015 | Most Popular Chat Show Host | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | Special Recognition Award | Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs | Won | ||
In 2005,Liverpool John Moores University awarded O'Grady an honorary fellowship for services to entertainment,[289] and in 2010, he received an honorary Doctor of Arts fromDe Montfort University inLeicester in recognition of his outstanding contribution to television, radio and the stage.[290]
In September 2016, O'Grady was recognised for his work with animals when he won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare at theRSPCA's Animal Hero Awards.[253]
In October 2023, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home announced that they would be naming a new veterinary hospital after O'Grady, and a "tribute fund" set up in his honour would go towards "life-saving and transformativemedicalprocedures" for dogs and cats which need specialist care and treatment.[291]
| Preceded by | Host ofBlankety Blank 1997–2002 (as Lily Savage) | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
